Nayagarh: An injured elephant undergoing treatment in the Ranpur Forest Range of Odisha’s Nayagarh district passed away on Wednesday morning. The tusker, receiving care from a veterinary team deployed by Nandankanan Zoological Park, had sustained a leg wound suspected to have been caused by a poacher’s bullet. Despite efforts to save the majestic creature, it succumbed to an infection that developed during the course of treatment.
The exact circumstances surrounding the injuries remain unclear, adding to the mystery of the incident.
Local residents first spotted the injured elephant near Kanchanpur village within the Ranpur Forest Range last Saturday. Allegations arose that despite timely notification to the forest department, no immediate action was taken. Concerns deepened as the animal was too weakened to feed itself, prompting worries about its chances of survival.
The veterinary team from Nandankanan Zoological Park tranquilized the elephant and administered necessary medicines to address its injuries. Unfortunately, the development of an infection proved fatal, leading to the demise of the majestic creature.
This unfortunate incident follows a series of challenges faced by elephants in the region. On Tuesday, another elephant lost its life after being struck by a truck while crossing National Highway-49 in Keonjhar district. Prior to that, a five-year-old male elephant succumbed to electrocution on Monday night in the Rasol forest area in Dhenkanal.
The string of elephant fatalities underscores the pressing need for heightened conservation efforts and better coordination between wildlife authorities and local communities. Prompt action in response to reports of injured or distressed wildlife is crucial to ensuring their well-being and, ultimately, their survival.
The incidents also shed light on the broader issue of human-wildlife conflict and the challenges faced by animals navigating through human-dominated landscapes. As wildlife habitats shrink and fragmentation increases, initiatives for the protection and conservation of these majestic creatures become more imperative than ever.
